Newsletter of the Padmasambhava Buddhist Centers SPRING/SUMMER 2001 VOL. 10 Teaching Schedule of Ven. Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche &Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche May 26-28 Padma Samye Ling DREAM YOGA: Actualizing the Clear Light Luminosity. May 29-June 2 Padma Samye Ling Kriya Yoga Workshop June 15-17 Tennessee Teachings & Empowerment on Death & Dying June 23 & 24 NYC 222 Bowery Empowerment of Four Armed Golden Manjushri July 21-29 Padma Samye Ling Annual Summer Dzogchen Retreat: Empowerments of Guru Padmasambhava and Queen of Great Bliss. Teachings on Queen of Great Bliss. July 30-Aug 5 Padma Samye Ling Self Development Dzogchen Retreat. SEVEN NAILS OF DZOGCHEN BY SHRI SINGHA. Aug 11-Aug 19 Padma Samye Ling Tibetan Language Program Sept 1-7 Padma Samye Ling Week of Calm Abiding & Hatha Yoga October 6-8 Padma Samye Ling Nyungne Retreat For more information please call or write In Memoriam - Lama Chimed Namgyal Padmasambhava Buddhist Center P.O. Box 1533, Old Chelsea Station On the afternoon of the 11th day of the First Month of Tibetan Iron Snake Year New York, NY 10011 2128, during the first week of the auspicious Miracle Month, Venerable Lama 212.683.4958 Chimed Namgyal, wearing his robes and sitting in the meditation position, Padma Samye Ling Retreat Center passed from this earthly realm into parinirvana and rested in the clear light of (Upstate New York) the Dharmakaya State. Khen Rinpoche, Khenpo Tsewang, Ani Lorraine and [email protected] Mimi Bailey were present when Lama entered parinirvana. At that moment, the 607.865.8068 character lines left Lama’s face and his complexion glowed, exhibiting a much younger appearance. There was a profound stillness in the room and www.padmasambhava.org Vajrasattva practice continued. (Cont’d page 3) MESSAGE FROM THE KHENPOS Pema Mandala Dear Sangha Friends, The Newsletter of Tashi Deleks! The Padmasambhava Buddhist Centers Nyingmapa Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism We would like to express our appreciation and gratitude for all your support during the passing of our dear father. From the samsara point of view this was one of the saddest chapters of our lives. From the Dharma point of view he died with the same dignity and glory as great practitioners of ancient times. Instead of being frightened or sad of his departure, he encouraged us during his last moments. He said to us, “Every human being’s life has its limitation and I have reached its highest point. I have fulfilled all my goals therefore I have no regrets. I leave this body with a vision and a goal so, my dear sons, do not be sad.” For us he was more than a father. He was teacher and also our mother since she died earlier on in our lives. For us he was also like a lion. He left this world like a lion, without Founding Directors hope or fear, leaving us all with the legacy of the lion-like yogis. Ven. Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche (L) Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche (R) We are so appreciative and thankful for all the support throughout this time expressed by your kind phone calls, faxes, e-mails, letters, and truly beneficial prayers. Acting Editor We would also like to thank Nancy Ash, former Editor of Pema Mandala , for the many Rita Frizzell editions that have been produced. All her works and past efforts have benefited many and brought a tremendous source of inspiration for practice. Contributing Editor Ani Lorraine O’Rourke We are also thankful to Ruth McMahon and others who are working to bring forth this and future editions of Pema Mandala . This serves to connect and strengthen Contributing Writers Padmasambhava Buddhist Center and expands beyond to all directions of the ever Ruth McMahon unfolding lotus mandala. Cynthia Friend Beth Wilber We wish you all the best of health and that your practice flourish. Dolly Carlisle With our best wishes, love and prayers, Ani Lorraine O’Rourke Nancy Ash Yours in the Dharma, Khenpo Palden Sherab Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Photography Ani Lorraine O’Rourke Transition. It is the As for me, I am experiencing a little bit of Rita Frizzell Letter shifting, the passing from transition of my own, as it is time for me to from the one condition, form or pass the Editor’s hat to two sangha members – activity to another. We all first to Rita Frizzell, Coordinator from PBC- Contact editor experience transition in Tennessee, redesigning and editing this issue, PEMA MANDALA NEWSLETTER our lives – in varying and then to Ruth McMahon, Coordinator of the P.O. Box 526 degrees – and we cannot avoid these changes. new West Florida sangha, who becomes Editor Sarasota, Florida 34203-0526 They are a vital part of life, and as practitioners with the next issue. Please offer support to (941) 758-9536 of the precious Dharma teachings of Dzogchen, them as they creatively work to keep this [email protected] we know that deep in our hearts, transition is a newsletter thriving. great teacher, helping us not to accept or reject, Those of us who were fortunate enough to not to cling or grasp, but instead, to rest the know Lama Chimed, to sit at the feet of this www.padmasambhava.org mind in its own true nature. realized yogi, to hear him recite Kuntuzangpo’s We honor the memory of our cherished yogi, prayer on special occasions, and to receive his Lama Chimed Namgyal, father of our Ven. countless blessings even to the end, are in awe Khenpos Rinpoche, who passed recently with a of his legacy. May we all develop the Pema Mandala welcomes all contributions and articles most extraordinary, graceful exit, leaving us with realizations that Lama achieved. for consideration for publication. Please send submissions relics of tremendous inspiration and vajra I want to wish you all the best, and thank you to Ruth McMahon at the above address. courage. His transition, as well as his entire life for your help and kindness, and all of the Deadline for the next issue is August 20, 2001. of dedicated practice, taught us all so much. beautiful letters and messages you have sent me © Copyright 2000 by The Padmasambhava Buddhist Center It is with this spirit that I would like to dedicate through these past six years publishing this International. Material in this publication is copyrighted and may this tenth issue of Pema Mandala to the great newsletter for the Padmasambhava Buddhist not be reproduced by photocopy or any other means without master Lama Chimed Namgyal, who tirelessly Centers. I feel immense joy for the opportunity written permission. prayed for all of us – day and night – dedicating to have served in this way. his life to all sentient beings. – Nancy Ash, West Palm Beach Sangha 2 IN MEMORIAM - LAMA CHIMED NAMGYAL (Continued from page 1) worldwide held special practices during the 49 days and individual members recited thousands of mantras to honor Lama Chimed. The Miracle Stupa that is being constructed in Sravasti, India will be dedicated, in part, to Lama Chimed Namgyal and his relics will be enshrined there. Since Lama’s passing, more than $10,000 has been donated to this project in his honor. Additional donations can be sent to: Padmasambhava Buddhist Center, P.O. Box 1533, Old Chelsea Station, NY 10011. The Khenpos express their deep gratitude to all who participated in the special practices for Lama before and during the 49 days after his passing and to those who honored Lama by contributing to the Sravasti Stupa Project that was so close to Lama Chimed’s heart. Over the next three days, until it was “In this world, at this time, Lama Chimed was a wonderful father to necessary to move Lama to the crematory, there are many people the Khenpos and served as a role model his body was not touched and one of the and inspiration to them. Lama exemplified PBC members who entered his room to who are suffering. devotion to the Dharma, courage, sit with him, some 24 hours after his commitment, love and compassion to his passing, reported that if she had not May I become the substitute sons and to all who had the privilege to known that Lama had passed, she would for their illness. be in his presence during his lifetime and have thought he was meditating – just as at the time of his passing. We are grateful we had observed many times over the May the six realms be free to Lama Chimed for his wisdom in taking years that he lived at Mandarava House. from suffering and his family to India in the 1950s when he recognized that Guru Padmasambhava’s When Lama was moved to the crematory the cause of suffering.” on the third day, his skin was tender, prediction of difficult times for Tibet was smooth and youthful and his body was as coming true. His wisdom ultimately flexible as a living person. Following brought us three teachers, Khen Rinpoche Lama’s cremation, the Khenpos found As is the custom when a realized master and Khenpo Tsewang in the early 80s and relics among his remains. As stated in the passes, 49 days of special practices and himself in 1989. How blessed we are and Tantra by Buddha Shakyamuni and Guru pujas followed Lama’s passing, using have been! Padmasambhava, these signs are Peaceful and Wrathful Buddha Sadhanas I will miss seeing Lama Chimed again this indications that a highly realized being and the Buddha Amitabha Sadhana. lifetime, but when I – and others – least has passed to the Dharmakaya State. Special practices were held at the Palm expect it, Lama’s presence is manifested in Beach Dharma Center following Lama’s Although Lama Chimed had been in some beautiful way and we know that he cremation.